UPDATED: 60 Minutes Saga: What’s Happened And What We Know
UPDATE Thursday 14 April 2016: Multiple media outlets are reporting the judge said “there is no way” the charges against the foursome detained will be dropped.
“There was a violation of the Lebanese authority by all these people, it’s a crime,” the Sydney Morning Herald reported the judge telling media.
The 60 Minutes saga continues to unfold as the team of four currently faces charges with offences relating to kidnapping.
But if you’ve had a lazy week and not up to speed with everything that’s happened with Nine’s current affairs program, we have the low down for you here.
Nearly a week ago reports surfaced that some Australian 60 Minutes crew had been detained in Lebanon. The crew had reportedly been filming a segment about recovering two children who had been taken to Beruit, Lebanon’s capital, and not returned home to Australia.
The crew, the mother of the children and others involved, were arrested and detained in Beruit.
In a statement, foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop said the Government was aware of the issue, and has “offered all appropriate consular assistance”.
The crew involved are reporter Tara Brown (pictured above), producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment.
The ABC reported the Brisbane-based mother, Sally Faulkner, had alleged the father was holding the children in Lebanon, and had paid an agency to take them back.
“The children’s mother Sally Faulkner had hired a child recovery agency to help remove the children, but that operation is believed to have gone wrong,” the ABC reported last Thursday.
Faulkner was then detained alongside the 60 Minutes crew, and others involved in the abduction.
The ABC is also reporting authorities claim Channel 9 paid for the intervention for Faulkner to snatch her children back.
“Lebanese authorities say they have uncorroborated evidence Nine paid for the operation, which saw the children of Australian mother Sally Faulkner snatched off a Beirut street,” the ABC said.
“Authorities say they now have a signed statement from a member of the ‘recovery team’ who says Nine paid $115,000 for the operation.”
Nine has not confirmed whether the network paid for it or not.
While speculation has been rife on the outcome of the situation, Tuesday saw the 60 Minutes team facing charges relating to offences of kidnapping.
A Nine spokesperson said it will be a few days until the team can respond to the charges laid.
“The matter appeared briefly before a judge in Beirut today, Tuesday, but it will be some days before the crew are interviewed by the judge which will be their first chance to respond to any charges that are to be laid,” said Nine.
“We do not have any further details at this time and we are not able to comment on any other aspects of the matter at this time.”
It appears it will be a few days until we know an outcome for the crew members and those involved.
Nine’s full statement as of Wednesday morning:
Channel Nine can confirm today that its 60 Minutes crew being detained in Lebanon are facing being charged with offences related to kidnapping.
The crew comprises reporter Tara Brown, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment.
The matter appeared briefly before a judge in Beirut today, Tuesday, but it will be some days before the crew are interviewed by the judge which will be their first chance to respond to any charges that are to be laid.
We do not have any further details at this time and we are not able to comment on any other aspects of the matter at this time.
Lead image via SBS.
Latest News
Optus Offers Victorians Free Access To Optus Sport
Locked down Victorians who don’t currently have an Optus Sport subscription will have complimentary access to Optus Sport from this weekend to enjoy the UEFA Champions League tournament plus access to premium health and fitness content through the Optus Sport app. UEFA Champions League – the world’s premier continental football tournament – kicks off at […]
Torrens University Australia Launches ‘Career Crush’ Via VCCP Sydney & Lash
Torrens University Australia has launched ‘Career Crush’ via VCCP Sydney and Lash, to help match students with a career they’ll love. Career Crush is an online quiz that determines prospective students’ personal strengths, passions and aspirations to match them with the careers and courses they’re most compatible with. One of the toughest decisions young people […]
Is Imitating An Accent Racist? 23% Of Aussies Think So
Study reveals it's no longer acceptable to call a colleague a "flamin' galah" or announce that "a dingo's got my baby".
Audi Unveils Latest Campaign ‘Raised By Racecars’ Via The Monkeys
Who doesn't love new work from The Monkeys? Unless, of course, you're a rival agency who just lost the account, that is.
Gaming Mums? The Key Demographic That Advertisers Are Missing
Study finds mums are turning to gaming. Apparently, not drinking 24 Red Bulls & living off Uber Eats while doing it.
Gen Z Men Say Feminism’s Gone Too Far & Makes It Harder For Men To Succeed
New study reveals Gen Z men now the fourth straight consecutive generation in a row to get the willies from feminism.
Study Finds Both Conservative & Feminist Women React “Positively” To Sexualised Advertising
This study's quite academic, so B&T has had to edit out the bits where we had no idea what the boffins were on about.
JCDecaux Brings Real Red Nose Day Heroes To life To Help Raise Funds For SIDs
We're big red nose supporters here in the B&T office. Admittedly, it's more a gin thing than a child charity one.
Pedestrian Partners With With NZ’s Mi9 To Expand Commercial Offering
Pedestrian Group has partnered with Nine subsidiary Mi9 New Zealand to offer NZ brands the opportunity to partner with the likes of Business Insider Australia, Pedestrian.tv and Gizmodo Australia. Next month, Mi9 New Zealand will be representing Pedestrian Group in the NZ market, offering clients the opportunity to work with leading youth publications including Lifehacker […]
triple J Hack’s Avani Dias To Work On Collaborative Four Corners Investigation
triple J's Avani Dias to work on a Four Corners investigation which will no doubt be depressing judging by Four Corners.
ACCC Admits It Doesn’t Penalise Influencers For Breaking Sponsored Content Rule
ACCC set to keep a keener eye on influencers, as Rod Sims reveals pearly whites thanks to Kendall Jenner whitening pen.
“An Inflection Point”: News Corp CEO On What The ACCC’s News Payment Code Means For Journalism
No one hates the tech giants quite like News Corp. So, expect plenty of the usual barbs, swipes, sprays & vitriol here.
Seven Announces Spotlight Investigations Team Covering Breaking News & Deep Dives
Seven unveils new 'Spotlight Investigations' team that B&T hopes will use a proton pack & Neutrino Wand to bust ghosts.
News Corp Earnings Slump 20%, As CV-19 And Local Assets Drag The Business Into The Red
Rupert sends threatening internal staff memo that he'll "release the monkeys", as News' numbers bleed red.
Thursday TV Wrap: Nine & Seven Thursday Night Footy Clash Sees AFL Come Out On Top
TV served-up the veritable footy feast last night. Or, if that didn't tickle your fancy, there were trains over at SBS.
Run, Don’t Walk! B&T Awards Entries Closing In Exactly One Week!
Hear that clock ticking? That's your one week warning for B&T Award entries. It'll be the steel drums next, we warn you.
VCNI To Launch SVOD Service Featuring ViacomCBS Content, Replaces 10 All Access
ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), a division of ViacomCBS, is launching a premium streaming service internationally, appealing to audiences of all ages. The new SVOD service will start its international roll-out early in 2021, offering exclusive premieres of all new SHOWTIME series, including Halo and American Rust. CBS All Access originals will also premiere exclusively on the new service, such […]
PubMatic Grows Team To 500, Set To Make Another 80 Hires In 2020
Much like the peacock's exotic plumage, this PubMatic news has its share of showing-off. Not that it's mating season.
“Buy A Hammer & F@ck Off!” ‘Chopper’ Read Reveals His Own “Karen From Bunnings” Ad
Let B&T end the week as we started it, with ANOTHER "Karen from Bunnings" story. Or, how we ended the week previous.
Optus ‘Yes’ Brand Mark Taken Into New Territory By FutureDeluxe
As part of a larger project to refine their brand with partner branding agency Re, Optus have engaged experimental creative studio FutureDeluxe to explore how the iconic ‘Yes’ brand mark behaves in a sophisticated 3D environment. FutureDeluxe have produced a series of 8x idents and a number of static key visuals which will be used […]
“Clean ‘Em Out!” Political Candidate Threatens Rivals With A Colonoscopy In Oddball Ad For US Elections
With the US presidential elections a mere three months away, B&T's just going to sit back & watch the lunacy flood in.
Nike & Wieden+Kennedy Unveil First Work For Liverpool FC
Liverpool has given us many great things, including The Beatles, head butts & football hooliganism. Now comes this ad.
Women In Print Starts New Chapter & Finds New Home
For some reason B&T's illustrated this Women In Print story with a computer screen. Yes, an investigation is underway.
Emotive Partners With YouTube And The United Nations
Creative agency, Emotive, and Good Oil Films, is partnering with YouTube and the United Nations to raise awareness around the importance of quality education, which forms part of the UN’s Global Goals for sustainable development.
HWBK Retains Seven Miles & Secures Campaign Work With Marine Stewardship Council
As this photo proves, gone are the days when it was shorties to the front, tallies to the back & polkadots were a no-no.
Grill’d Launches 100% Natural Campaign
Hungry Jacks may claim its "burgers are better", but Grill'd can most certainly claim its are four times more expensive.
LinkedIn Perfectly Captures The Realities Of WFH In New Spot
Sadly, new campaign doesn't answer why people look far more attractive in their LinkedIn photo than in real life.
Zuckerberg: Regulating Targeted Ads Will Hurt Small Businesses
Zuckerberg slams regulators and issues terse warning to whomever's using his squeezable mayonnaise in the staff fridge.
Televised Church Service Catches The Full Fury Of The Beirut Explosion
Arguably, church is one place you'd want to be during a massive explosion. But as this proves, a bank vault's better.
Trump Interviews Trump In A Hilarious Mashup Of His Car-Crash TV Interview With Aussie Journo
It's not often you hear "leader of free world" & "comedic genius" in the same sentence, such is the Trump presidency.
